The Daily Commute - BeckyCooper's Blog

The Daily Commute - BeckyCooper's Blog - Victoria Advocate http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/BeckyCooper Commuting - highways, roadways, things seen along the way, adventures in traveling, drivers and anything else that comes to mind about commuting. Commuting - highways, roadways, things seen along the way, adventures in traveling, drivers and anything else that comes to mind about commuting. en-us Shocking cold http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/BeckyCooper/9823 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/BeckyCooper/9823 I don't really mind the cold weather. Actually I kind of like it, but not enough to move up north. But what I do mind is the static electricity that forms during cold spells. I don't  understand how it forms, but I do know it hurts when it happens. I especially notice it when I'm getting out of my car and I touch the door to shut it and then I am ZAPPED. A lot of times I try to put a buffer between my bare skin and the door - like my purse or jacket sleeve, but many times I do not have that buffer. We get static shocks up here in the newsroom quite often as well and many times that pop can be heard throughout the room. My question is - with all the gadgets, lotions and potions out there, does anyone know a sure-fire way to stop the static build up so I and others like me don't get zapped or popped in this cool weather.   Come on down! http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/BeckyCooper/9677 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/BeckyCooper/9677 To borrow a phrase made famous by the announcer of the TV show “The Price is Right”: “COME ON DOWN!” Instead of inviting a new contestant to play, I’m inviting the gas companies to continue to lower their prices. It may be the best Christmas present we consumers can receive this season. I was pleasantly surprised to see gas at $1.49 a gallon this morning at the Speedy Stop, 8701 N. Navarro St. Last night it was $1.50. On Monday it was $1.67. An 18 cent drop in less than  a week is really nice to see. Earlier this year we were experiencing increases of that size in the same time period. In checking out the gas prices along my route in, the prices were all over the board ranging from $1.59 on down to the $1.49. Hopefully the stations that still have the higher prices will follow suit and lower them. And hopefully as the price of crude continues to fall, so will the price at the pump. A few weeks ago we were lamenting the predictions that gas at the pump would top the $5 level before year’s end, but fortunately those were wrong. About that same time I was seriously considering trading in my trusty SUV for a more economic vehicle. But I procrastinated because I really like my Trailblazer and feel safe and comfortable in it on the open highway. The idea of driving a small car again where I can’t see past the truck that has pulled up beside me at intersection or that feeling that my bottom is dragging the highway because the car is so low to the ground just didn’t sit well with me – after all that was why I moved from the passenger car to the SUV. Now with the price of gas coming down, I feel much more comfortable about keeping my SUV. Sure I will still fill up the same number of times a week, but it won’t hurt as much when the final click of the pump reads my total is a third of what I was paying a few months ago. Gas prices, Oct. 30, 2008 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/BeckyCooper/9359 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/BeckyCooper/9359 $2.16 - Speedy Stop 5906 N. Navarro St.             Stripes, 2002 N. Navarro St. Have you seen cheaper gas anywhere? Please let us know. Becky     Gas prices, Oct. 28, 2008 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/BeckyCooper/9332 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/BeckyCooper/9332 $2.19 - Whistle Stop, 8501 N. Navarro St.             J.C.'s  Food Mart,  5801 John Stockbauer Drive Have you seen cheaper gas prices anywhere?  If so please let us know Becky   Gas prices, Oct. 27, 2008 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/BeckyCooper/9319 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/BeckyCooper/9319 $2.23 - Whistle Stop, 8501 N. Navarro St.. if you have seen cheaper gas anywhere, please let us know. Becky       Gas prices, Tuesday, OCt. 22, 2008 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/BeckyCooper/9257 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/BeckyCooper/9257 As of noon: $2.34 - Whistle Stop, 8501 N. Navarro St. A 4-cent drop since this morning.   If you have seen cheaper gas anywhere please let us know. Becky   Gas prices, Monday, Oct. 20, 2008 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/BeckyCooper/9248 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/BeckyCooper/9248 $2.40 - Whistle Stop, 8501 N. Navarro St. Gas prices, Oct. 16, 2008 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/BeckyCooper/9210 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/BeckyCooper/9210 $2.55 - Whistle Stop, 8501 N. Navarro St.                Speedy Stop, 8701 N. Navarro St.  Iif you have seen cheaper gas anywhere, please let us know.     Bumper stickers support politics http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/BeckyCooper/9124 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/BeckyCooper/9124 With the political season in full swing bumper stickers supporting the candidate of choice are popping up everywhere. Saw this one today - NOBAMA  - obviously on a McCain supporter’s truck. Over the years my favorite political bumper sticker still has to be from the senior Bush  vs. Clinton campaign: it read "Piss Off the Media, Re-elect Bush." What are some of your favorite political bumper stickers?   Lighted U.S. flag is shining bright again at Sarah Spinks' home http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/BeckyCooper/9108 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/BeckyCooper/9108 Sarah Spinks’ flag is back in her front yard right where it belongs. She took the 4-by-16-foot lighted flag down this summer because the blue lights had faded and “it was ugly. We couldn't’t find more blue lights.”  So she and her friend Thomas Yarborough, who helped her build it about six years ago, took it down and waited for stores to stock their Christmas lights. They estimate there are 800 to 1,000 lights. The new lights are brighter and light up the darkness of the night. She bought special star lights for the 50 stars on the flag. And to make sure the flag doesn’t go dark again any time soon, she has stockpiled lights, including the stars. Spinks, who works at Furr’s Cafeteria on Mondays and Tuesdays, said customers and friends have been after her to put it back up, saying the country needs the flag right now. So on Sunday when she turned the lights back on for the first time in about four months her neighbors were quick to notice. One of her neighbors commented that he was so happy to see the flag back. And so are the motorists who pass her house on North Main Street and see the flag with its bright lights shining once again.